Helping Mistress Alicia/Deb Orvis

This campaign is on behalf of Deborah L. Orvis (Mistress Alecia von Hawken in the Society for Creative Anachronism, or SCA) to raise funds to cover her medical expenses. 

Deb and Rich Orvis, married for 42 years, are the owners and artisans behind the Time Traveling Traders, merchants that specialize in amber jewelry.  She started out as a scrimshaw artist (etching on fossil ivory & horn) more than 25 years ago and soon branched out to intaglio/cameo carving of amber, wire wrapping and making beaded amber & gemstone jewelry.  She loves working with an endless variety of gemstone, glass and metal beads, but amber is her passion.  Her amber scrimshaw has earned her an international reputation, and she is viewed as one of the pioneers in popularizing this art form. In 1991, a Polish amber dealer paid her way to Hong Kong to demonstrate intaglio carving in amber at the largest gem show in Asia, because she was the only person he could find that could do this kind of work. Her art work is well known in the Society for Creative Anachronism (the SCA), and in black powder historical reenactment communities. Many of us are proud owner of Deb's works, and I encourage those of you who own pieces from Time Traveling Traders to post pictures of her work here. 





In the SCA, Deb Orvis, aka Alecia von Hawken, became a member of the SCA in 1981. Alecia is a recipient of an Award of Arms, the Order of the Willow for achievement in the arts, a Court Baroncy, and was a member of the Order of Laurel, the highest award within the SCA for the recognition of excellence and achievements in the arts and sciences. Mistress Alecia was the artist that crafted the Pennsic War Horn, one of the War's most valued treasures. She has attended Pennsic Wars since her first war (Pennsic 11) in 1982 until Pennsic 43 (2014).




Deb's health has been deteriorating for the last two years, and doctors could not find out why until they found a brain tumor in September of 2016. The tumor has affected both her short and long term memory, as well as her hand-eye coordination. As an artist, this is devastating blow, and there are serious concerns about her long-term prognosis.  She is currently in the University of Michigan Hospital, with doctors trying to figure out what kind of tumor it is.  Medical costs have depleted her family’s finances, and more funds are needed to continue her treatment.

Funds raised in this campaign will go to pay for Deb's medical expenses.  Rich wants to spend as much of his time with Deb during her treatment and convalescence, which makes it difficult for him to cover day-to-day activities and expenses. Deb and Rich are brilliant and kind people, and many people have offered to help out during this time of need. This campaign will help ease the financial burdens they are facing, and will hopefully aid in providing her with the medical care needed for her recovery.

Please help bring Deb back to health, so that she can continue to produce her unique jewelry, and return her to her family and friends.  Thank you so very much for your help and attention.